champagne problems x jemily/hotchniss

twenty-one

i'm still upset we never got an episode for each team member's birthday. it would have been so cute😭

anyways, in this story i made the conscious decision to skip over Reid's birthday. It'll be mentioned but i don't think it deserves a full chapter for it😙

sit tight, bestie has some ideas that y'all won't like

happy readings and stay safe besties! -salem🤍

TW: minimal swearing, mentions of alcohol
word count: 3785

•

JJ: "Having a birthday is like reaching a higher peak on a mountain. Pause to admire the view; reflect on how far you've come." Richelle E. Goodrich.

Emily hadn't heard anything from anyone since she woke up this morning. Nothing from Aaron, or JJ, and the rest of the team. It was odd, considering Garcia made everyone painfully aware of everyone's birthdays. Even Hotch, although he never liked to have his birthday be announced.

The raven-haired woman sighed and found herself in the elevator alone, going up to the sixth floor. When the doors opened, she furrowed her eyebrows as all the lights except in the hallways were off. Emily, being Emily, already had her hand on her gun. She opened the door and turned on the lights when confetti and balloons were thrown in the air.

"Happy birthday!" they all collectively yelled. Emily smiled widely as she saw all her team members there in bulletproof vests.

"Oh, you guys. You didn't do anything," Emily said as she walked up to the team. JJ was the first to engulf her in as tightly a hug as she could give. The massive baby bump was in the way sometimes.

"You know Garcia, and I weren't going to keep quiet on your birthday," JJ said and rubbed Emily's back as they pulled away. "Besides, not our idea."

"Happy birthday, beautiful," Aaron said with a smile. Emily practically leaps into his arms as the man embraced her. The two pulled away and gave the other a quick kiss before Emily pulled away from him.

"Happy birthday!" Penelope shouted and embraced Emily in a tight hug. The two women's faces were scrunching up as they hugged.

"Thank you," Emily said softly. She wasn't used to grand gestures on her birthday. Truth be told, Emily never got a real birthday celebration. The first time she did was when she was in college with Clara and Melissa.

"Bring it in, princess," Derek said as Emily chuckled. The man hugging her tightly. "Happy birthday. How old are you again? Seventy-four?"

"You're an ass," Emily said and swatted his back as the rest of the team chuckled. "Forty right on the dot today."

"Might as well put you in a nursing home," Spencer said jokingly as Emily rolled her eyes. "Happy birthday, Emily."

"I'm terrified to hear what you have to say about my age," Rossi said and walked up to Prentiss. He kissed both her cheeks before engulfing her in a hug. "Today, we celebrate the impressive forty years of life with wine and cake."

"Two ways to my heart," Emily joked and pulled away. Aaron came up right next to her with the lighter. Penelope was holding the cake right in front of Emily as the candles were lit. JJ found herself on the other side of Emily.

"You gotta make a wish. Make it good," JJ said and placed her hand on Emily's arm. The woman shut her eyes and thought about the one thing she wanted before blowing out the candles. Everyone cheered as Emily smiled.

"Thanks, guys," Emily said as Hotch leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

"What did you wish for?" Derek asked as Penelope handed him the plates to hold.